Pneumatic folding-machine.



E. H. BROWN, DECD. M. L. HEALD, EXBOUTBIX. PNEUMATIC FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-311151111 1.

I, INVENTOR \VITNESSES:

v i "A r-1" E. H. BROWN, DEOD, M. L. HEALD, EXECUTRIX. PNEUMATIC FOLDING MACHINE; I APPLICATION FILED JAN.23, 1911. 1,053,477. Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEEgS-fiHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

ATTY

E. H. BROWN, DEGD. M. L. HEALD, EXBOUTRIX.

- PNEUMATIC FOLDING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1911. 1,053,471 Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SEBETSSIIEBT 3.

we \ra \VITNESSES: I INVENTOR W% W I I ATTY ject of myinyention is to construct a ma-.,

UNITED STATES PATENT/OFFICE.

EUGENE H. BROWN, or racy, NEW YORK; MARGARET .L. HEALD ExEcU'rmx or. sun '3 v BROWN, DECEASED.

PNEUMATIC FOLlDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18.1913.

Application filed January 23, 191 1. SeriaLNo. 604,061. I

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Troy. in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York. have invented certain: new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Folding-Machines. of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates ,to machines for folding collar and cutl' blanks and the obchine by which the die-head will lowered and the folder-plates operated and the goods pressed between the folder-plates and thehed-plate auton'iatically-by pneumatic pres:

sure.

Figure 1 is an inverted plan view with parts broken away. Fig. 2 1s an end ele vation with parts broken away. Fig. 3 1s a.

section of the air-cylinders and piston. for operating t hefolder-plates'.. Fig. 4 is a sec.-

. tion of the air cylinder and piston 'for lowering the die-head. Fig. 5 a section of the air-cylinder andpiston for pressing the bed plate against the folder plates. Figs. 6, 7 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating different positions of the air valve.- Fig. 10 is a distorted section of the air valve, along the line XX, Fig. 6. Figs. lla-nd 12 are detailed views of the eccentrics for operating the folder-plates. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the crank for operating the folder plates.

Similar numerals refer to similar "parts throughout the several views.

In the manufacture ofcollars and ends the blanks are placed upon the bed-plate of the folding machine and the die pressed upon the blanks while the folder-plates fold the edges of the blanks over the edges of the die and the blanks are then pressed between the folder-plates and .t-hebed-pla-te. Such a machine is shown and described in. Letters Patent No. 870,313 issued to me on the 5th day of November, 1907. y present invention is for the purpose of operating such well known typesof folding machines by pneumatic prcssure.- 4 i ()ther objects of my invention will appear Referring, to Fig. 1(1 of the drawingsrl 1s a chamber formed by the cover of the air valve into which compressed air is conducted by any desired means 'from a sourceof supply (not shown). Within the chamber 1 is a rotary plate or disk 2 provided with, a projecting stem 5 adapted to engage with and" be driven by the valve lever 4. The rotary plate 2 has formed in its face the passageways 200 and 201. The passageway 200 having a port 3 connecting itto the pressure chamber 1. The passageway 201 is for; the purpose of connecting the ports leading to the several operating pressure cylinders to the exhaust port 10, as willbe-explained later. The valve lever 4 is connected by means of the connecting'rod 12 to the pedal 11 pivoted to the frame of the machine, as 1? shown in Fig.2. Connected to the. rod 12 is the spring 45 the other end of which is fastened to the frame of the machine; also shown1in Fig. 2.

Referring to the dlagrams Figs. 6, 7, 8

and 9, Fig. 6 shows the relative. position "of the different ports when the pedal is raised and the machineatrest. When in this position pressure being admitted to the chamher 1 will pass through the port'3 in. the rotary plate 2 into the passageway 200 and so into the 'L'port 6 in the .valve seat arid thence throughthe pipes 46%? int'o the pressure cylinder 35 and will cause the pis ton 350 to move to the left, (see Figs. 1 and 3) carrying with it the 'cr'osshead 31 attachedthereto. The connecting bars 3232 3333- on the cranks 34-34 (see Figs. 11 and 12) will cause the folder-platesto be wvitlulnsWn from contact with the -die and connecting the eross-he'adtll to the levers is applied to the pedal 11- the link or red 12 and lever't rill causegthe rotary plate to 1 more to tlu position shown in diagram in- Fig. 7 when the end of the dog 14 will come.

into contact with the notch 13 in the lever l. lien in this position air pressure. is ad mitted from the pressure-011amher 1 through the port. 3 into the passageway 200 and through the port 7 and pipes 15 and l illlltO the pressure cylinder 17, and will cause the piston '18- to be forced out against the projection 19 on the die-arm 20 which is pivoted at 21 and force the die on the die-head 22 -to descend upon the blank which has been placed in position on the bed-plate 23. It will be-seen that by means of the passageway 200 pressure is still admitted to the port 6 and thence to the pressure cylinder 35 which ar m rangement secures the folder-plates in their open position and prevents any damage to the diejby the accidental moving forward of the folderlates before the 'die islowered upon the b'e -plate. As the piston 18 nears its outward limit of travel the nut on the rod 24 attached there'to strikes the arm 25 on thejdog 14 and pulls the dog 14 from contac tfiwith the notch 13 on the lever 4. Pres.

surheing onti-nued on the footpedal, the

connecting rod'12 and valve lever 4 will mna jae the movement of the rotary plate 2 until the dog 14 comes into contact with the :notch 27 on the lever 4, when the position of thevalve will be as shown in. Fig 8.

By reference to Fig. 8 it willlie seen that as the port 3 and passageway 200' commence to uncover the port 8 which port admits pressure through the pipes 28 and 29 into pressure cylinder 30 for forcing the piston 30 to the right causing the folders to close or move inwardly, the passageway 201 commences to uncover port 6 and allow the Lpres'sure in cylinder to exhaust through port 10. It will also be seen that pressure 35 is still admitted by means of the passage 200 tothe port 7 and thence to pressure cylinder 17, which will hold the die firmly against the bed-plate 23' while the folders are-being movi'ed inwardly. As the piston 350 is moved to the right,- carrying with it the i -crgss-l'leadiil, connecting bars 3232 and 'by, ,"frneans of the levers 33-33 causing the cranks 3434 to move the folder-plate inwardly-,it'also carries with it the'arm 36 of the bell cranklever pivoted at 37 (sce Figs. .1. and 2) and causes the'arm 38 of said bell crank lever to engage the arm 25 on the dog 14 and pull it out of engagement with the notch 27 in the valve lever 4. Pressure be so ingj'continued on the foot pedal, the connectingrod 12 and valve lever 4 will continue the movement of the rotary plate until it reaches the positionshown in diagram in 'Figg-"9. When in this position, (as shown in pr .ssure chamber 1 through port 3 into passageway 200, thence bymeans of port 9 pipe 39 into pressure cylinder 40 which w' cause the piston 41 .(Figs. 1., 2 and 5) ea, tobffforced downw ird against the ends of /J1, e ssure levers 42-42 which are fulcr-nined at 43443, the other-ends of the pressure levers being in contact with the bed-plate 23 will exert an upward pressure Fig.'i9) pressure will be admitted from V upon-itfland' thus press the folded blank by pressing the bed-plate upward against the folder plates and pressing the fold of the blank between them. It will be seen that in this position pressure is still admitted to ports 7 and 8. This arrangement guards against any failure of the folders and die to keep their position which might happen by reason of the pressure running down from leaks if the cylinders were cut oil and dependence placed in their holding the pres sure originally supplied. When the pressure is removed from the foot pedal the spring 45 (Fi 2) will cause the foot pedal, connecting ro 12, valve lever 4 and rotary plate 2 to return to their original positions. As the rotary plate i noves backward from the position shown in Fig. 9, the passageway 201 will, whenthe rotary plate reaches the positionshown in Fig. 8, exhaust the pressure from the cylinder 40 by connecting port 9 with exhaust port 10 which will release the pressure on the bed-plate 23. When it reaches the position shown in Fig. 7 it will exhaust the pressure from the cylinder 30 by connecting port 8 to the exhaust port 10. At the same time it will let pres sure through port 3, passageway 200 andport (3 into cylinder 35 and cause the folders to be opened or moved backward. \Vhen it reaches the original position as shown in Fig. 6 it exhausts the pressure from ,cylindcr 17 and allows the spring 26 (Fig. 2) to raise the die and die-head-22 from contact with the bed-plate 23 and the projection 19 on the die-arm 20 to return the piston 18 to its original position. (See Fig. 4).

Figs. 11 and 12 show the crank operating the folder-plates 202 and the driving pin- 47 and'the guide pin 48. The pins 47 and 48 are located in the corner of the folderplates, the driving pins 47- 47 being located in the recess '49 and the pin 48 in the groove 50. By turning the crank the driving pin 47 will move the folder-plate which will be guided by the guide pin 48 working in the groove 50 and if the groove 50 is straight, as shown in Fig. 12, the folderplate will be given a diagonal movement over the die upon the bed-plate The direction of the movement of the folderplates may be regulated by varying the direction of the groove 50 If the groove 50 turns at a sharp angle, shown in Fig. 11, the folder-plate will move endwise and then sidcwlse, first folding the goods over the ends ot'the die and then over the sides of the die, or vice versa as the case maybe.

The object being to move the guide-plate so that it will fold the edges of the cloth over the sides and ends of the (lie and the i'novement of each section of the folder-' plate will be simultaneous and concurrent. Constructed in this way one downward movement upon the foot pedal performs three successive operations. I Firsti Bring ii g down the die upon the goods upon the ,illgilf'ipl il ie.

power of the compressed air moves the various parts of the machinery much more rapidly and effective than can be done by any other means.

The pressure cylinder under the bed-plate is sufficiently large to exert all the force de sired, and presses the goods much more effectively than can otherwise he done. In this wa-y the folding machine is worked rapidly and controlled entirely by the foot of the operator so that the operator may have both hands free to handle the goods and arrange them in position on the bedplate and remove them as desired.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a vertically movable bed-plate mountedupon said frame, a die-arm, a die-head, a die, folder plates, a chamber adapted to receive compressed air, separate cylinders, one of which isadapted to operate said bedplate and one of which is adapted to operate the die-arm and one of which'is adapted to operate the folder-plates, pipes extending from said compressed air chamber to said cylinders and means for admitting comprrsod air from said chamber to said cylinders successively whereby said die-arm,

folder-plates and bed-plate may be operated l(!(!@SS1Vly by means of compressed air irom said chamber. I

2, In a folding machine, a frame, a bedplate mounted upon said frame, a diearm hinged to said frame, a die-head, a (116, a chamber adapted to receive compressed air, a cylinder, connections between said cylinder and said compressed air chamber, means for admitting compressed air from said chamber into "said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder adapted to be operated by said compressed air, one end of said piston extending through saidcylinder and in con-' tact with the die-arm carrying said die-head whereby admission of compressed air in said cylinder will force said'p'istonagainst said die-arm thereby pressing said-die upon said bed-plate.

pipes connecting said compressed air chamber with said cylinder, a rotary plate in said compressed air chamber, an opening through said rotary plate adapted to allow 'the air to pass from said chamber through said pipes into said cylinder, a foot pedal attached to said frame, means for moving said rotary plate by said foot pedal whereby pressure upon said foot pedal will operate said die-head, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, a

frame, a bed-plate mounted upon said frame, a die-arm hinged upon said frame, a diehead attached to said die-arm, a die attached to said die-head, folder-plates mounted upon said frame and adapted to fold the edges of the cloth upon said bed-plate over the edges of said die, a compressed air chamber, a rotary plate locatedin said compressed air chamber, two cylinders mounted vin said frame operating a single piston, pipes leading from said compressed air chamber to each of said cylinders, openings through said rotary plate adapted to allow compressed air to pass through said pipes alternately into each of said cylinders, a foot pedal attached to said frame, connections between said foot pedal and said rotary plate whereby pressure upon said foot pedal Will.op-

crate said rotary plate so as to allow the compressed air to pass into one of said cylinders and exhaust from the otherand the withdrawal of pressure from said foot pedal will allow the air to be "exhausted from that cylinderand the compressedair to pass into the other cylinder, a piston adapted to be operated in alternate directions from said cylinders, intermediate connections between conductcompressed air from said chamber to-said cylinders, a rotary-plate within said chamber covering the openings to said pipes, a port in said rotary-plate adapted to allow compressed air to pass through said rotarylate assa ewa s under said rotar late 7 b 7 one of said'passageways adapted to allow compressed air to pass from said port. to the pipes leading to'the said cylinders and the other passageway adapted to allow the exhaust from said cylinders to escape, and means for turning said rotary-plate to sues cessively open and close said openings.

6. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a bed-plate, a' die, folder-plates adapted to fold goods over said die upon said bed-plate, a pressure chamber, separat upon the frame of said machine, connections between said footpedaland'sald valve leverframe, a bed-plate, a die,

c \"l.inders adapted to operate the various actuating parts of said die, pipes adapted to conduct compressed air from said chamber to said cylinders, a rotary-plate within said chamber covering'the openings to said pipes, a port in said rota "y-pla'te adapted to allow compressed air to pass through said rotaryplate, passageways under said rotary-plate,

one. of such passageways adapted to allow compressed air to pass from said port into the pipes leading *to said cylinders and the other passageway adapted to 'allow the exhaust from said cyinders'to escape, a stem attached to said roary plate, a valve lever attached to said .stem, a foot pedal mounted whereby the rotary-plate may be operated bysaid foot pedal to successively ope close said openings. Z 7. In a machine of the class descr bed, a folder-plates adapted to fold goods over' said'die upon said bed-plate, cylinders adapted to operate the various actuating'parts of said die, pipes adapted to conduct compressed air from said chamber to said cylinders, a rotary-plate within said chamber covering the 'openin gs to said pipes, a port in said rotary-plate, passageways .under said rotary-plate, one of such passageways adapted to allow compressed air to pass from said port into the pipes leading to said cylinders and the other passage:

Way adapted to allow the exhaust from said cylinders toescape, a stem attached to said rotary-plate, a valve lever attached to said stem, afoot pedal mounted upon the frame of the machine, a rod connecting said foot pedal with said valve lever, yielding means adapted to normally force said foot pedal in a raised position whereby, pressure upon said foot pedahwill turn said rotary-plate, allowing compressed air to pass successively into thevarious-operating cylinders in said Will return said foot pedal to its original position reversing the movements of said rotary-plate thereby operating the actuating mechanism of said machine successively. 8 In amachine of the class described, a

frame, abed-plate, a die-arm, a die-head, a

die,'folder- .)late,s, a compressed air cham- "her, a rotary pla within said chamber, a

port through sai plate adapted to rotyy allow the compressed 1r to pass from said,

., chambe'rfnto the compressed air cylinders a'dapte to severally and successlvely operetc the actuating. mechanism of said machine, a Mob pedalpivoted upon said frame, a-st-em attached to said rotary plate, a lever attached to lsaid'stem, a rod-connecting said foot pe'datwith said lever, 'yieldingmcans for forcing said foot pedal "m a ra1secl position when no pressure is applied, means bed-plate, and

a pressure chamber, separate for conducting the compressed air through the port of said rotary plate into the cvlinder adapted to normally hold said folderplates open, intermediate connections be tween said chamber and said operating cylinders whereby the downward pressure upon said foot pedal will turn said rotary plate thereby successively admitting compressed 'air into said cylinders and causing said die I 0 descend upon the bed-plate, the folder- )lates to close and the bedplate to be pressed upward. and the removal' of pressure from said foot pedal will remove the pressure from said bed-plate, open the folder-plates and raise the die.

9. In a folding machine adapted to be operated by pneumatic pressure, a frame, a folder-plates,-a die-arm hinged to said frame, a die-head, a-die attached to said /die-h :d adapted to descend upon said bedplate,'a compressed air chamber, a rotaryplate, a stem attached to said rotary-plate, a valve lever attached to said stem, a foot pedal pivoted to said frame, means for operating said valve lever by said foot pedal, a notch in said valve lever, a dog attached to said frame and adapted to enter said notch, a port through said rotary-plate adapted when at normal position to allow compressed air from said chamber to pass into a connecting cylinder, :1 cylinder adapted to receive the compressed air from said chamber which said cylinder is connected with and adapted to operate the folderplates, whereby compressed air entering into said cylinder will open said folderplates and hold them open by means of said dog entering said notch.

10. In a machine of the class described adapted to be operated by pneumatic pressure, a frame, a vertically movable bedplate, a die-arm hinged to said frame, a diehead, a die attached to said die-head and adapted to press upon said bed-plate,- folder-plates adapted to close over said die uponsaid bed-plate, a compressed air chamher, means for operating said folder plates by compressed air from said chamben-l means for pressing said bed-plate upward by compressed air from said chamber, a ro-' tary plate located in said compressed air chamber, a stem attached tosaid rotary p1ate,'a valve'l'ever attached to said stem a foot pedal pivoted to said frame, means for operating said valve lever by said foot .pedal, a notch in said valve lever,.a dog attached to said frame, and means for operating said dog by parts of the-mechanism of the machine actuated by. compressed air from said chamber. I

11. In afoldingmachine, a frame, a diearm hinged to said frame, a die-head attached to said die-arm, a dieattached to said die-head, means for operatingsaid diearm, a bed-plate, folder-plates adapted to close inwardly over the die upon said bed- In testimony whereof fafilx my signature plate, a crank adapted to operate in a plate in presence of two Witnesses attached to said folder-plates, a plate attached to said folder-plates, an opening in EUGENE H. BROWN.

5 said plate adaptedtdrecei e thedriving crank pin, a guide slot in said plate adapted lVitnesses: l to receive the central pin of said crank and RETA VAN DER Vomxm, means for operating said crank. ,WALTER E. \VARD 

